Motorola introduced its Motorola Netopia 7000 Series VDSL2 Gateways. The 7000 Series gateways are designed to deliver high-speed data and IPTV services over ultra-broadband networks that are easy for service providers to install and manage. Through the use of advanced VDSL2 technology and Motorola’s industry-proven embedded routing software, these new gateways are ready for the extreme demands of next-generation service offerings such as HDTV.

The Motorola Netopia 7000 VDSL2 Gateways are available in three different configurations in order to address the worldwide demand for VDSL2 technology. By offering solutions based on Broadcom with PhyR, Conexant and Ikanos Communications chipsets, Motorola can support the wide variety of network configurations that are being deployed by the world’s largest service providers.

Kasenna announces that Telefonia Bonairiano has selected Kasenna LivingRoom middleware and MediaBase video servers. The new video service, called "mitv" is the first IPTV service in the Caribbean island of Bonaire, and is considered to be the showcase model for Telbo partner telecom companies that serve an additional 24 countries.

Telbo's "mitv" service is an integral part of its triple play video, voice and data offering. The carrier is using Kasenna's LivingRoom middleware and MediaBase video servers to deliver an array of video services, including 40 basic and premium video channels (including HBO, Discovery and Fox), Dutch Public Channels (Nederland 1, 2 and 3), as well as international, sports, action, and premium movie-oriented packages. Movies and other content will be delivered via VOD as well as PPV.

Video Ezy announces the selection of Digisoft’s IPTV delivery platform and set top box middleware to enable the delivery of the Video Ezy Electronic Video Rental service which will be rolled out in Video Ezy and Blockbuster stores in Australia and New Zealand. Video Ezy has over 1,000 stores and serves over 8 million customers.

The main components of the Video Ezy Electronic Rental include an In-Store Kiosk with Movie library, Branded USB or iPOD type storage system and In-Home Java Set top Box. The Consumer simply plugs the USB or iPOD into the kiosk to select movies to rent for later playback on the Java Set top box. The set top box software developed by Digisoft enables new revenue streams, and removes the dependency on traditional middleware, creating a lower cost of ownership and faster return on investment for Service Providers.

DigiSoft.tv has signed a global Binary Value Added Partner agreement with Sun Microsystems for the distribution of a Java Platform Micro Edition based software stack for IPTV STBs.

Sun's Java technology-based media client combined with DigiSoft’s advanced middleware solution for IPTV Set Top Boxes enables service providers to rapidly launch feature-rich, revenue-generating HD services such as Video and Music on Demand, karaoke, home shopping, network-based recording / time-shifted TV, games and more on a wide range of IPTV STBs with H.264 HD and SD video. Also supported is the latest encryption and watermarking technologies from selected partners. The combined DigiSoft / Sun software stack offers IPTV service providers the most open, cost-effective, flexible IPTV middleware solution available in the market today.

Kasenna announces that the Clarksville, Tennessee Department of Electricity has deployed a new digital video service based on Kasenna LivingRoom middleware and MediaBase video servers. The new video service, called CDE Lightband, is a triple-play offering that features 200 channels of high-quality digital video, an interactive programming guide, and video on demand service, along with 10Mbps Internet and telephony services.

With this deployment, CDE becomes one of the leaders of a new trend for utilities to reduce operating expenses and leverage their infrastructure by offering new services to subscribers. The CDE was interested in deploying fiber to properties in its service area near Nashville in order to implement automated meter checks. With a network proposed, however, the utility realized that it could drive new revenues by adding triple play services to the network. In a citywide referendum held in late 2006, the CDE plan was approved by 72 percent of voters.

Industria announces Zignal 2.0 a groundbreaking and unprecedented IPTV middleware platform designed to bridge the gap between the TV user’s expectations and the solutions currently available in the IPTV market space.

Built using device agnostic technology, the Zignal 2.0 user interface can be rendered in the fastest available technology on each device. Already deployed on each of the three screens, set-top-boxes, PCs and mobile phones, Zignal makes the best use of its small memory-footprint while maintaining a user interface that stays in tune with user’s expectations.

Dreampark to deliver its Dreamgallery middleware to Spanish triple-play operator, TV Almansa through the cooperation with Spanish system integrator bcSistemas. bcSistemas will offer Dreampark’s IPTV middleware and provide system integration services to its customers. The first operator contract is signed and the system will be delivered in February.

Dreamgallery is an ideal solution for System Integrators because it enables them to make changes to the offering independent of the middleware provider. With Dreamgallery, SI’s can add features, functionality and integration without Dreampark thus increasing their flexibility and control over their content and operations. In addition, Dreamgallery’s easy-to-use administration enables independent local adoption of the portal and content.

Sky Italia has entered into a multi-year renewal of its middleware license agreement with OpenTV. Sky Italia is Italy's premier provider of satellite television, offering a variety of programming choices to more than four million subscribers.

"We are extremely pleased with Sky Italia's decision to renew our relationship on a long term basis and explore OpenTV's full range of next generation middleware products," said Ben Bennett, OpenTV's Chief Operating Officer. "Our goal is to continue building on this strong partnership by ensuring our technology is aligned as closely as possible with Sky Italia's business needs; a long term partnership means OpenTV providing Sky Italia with proven and innovative solutions that help grow their business and retain customers through world-class enhanced, interactive and targeted services."

Dreampark announces that TUS TELEKOM has selected Dreamgallery as the middleware for their IPTV solution. Dreampark's IPTV middleware (Dreamgallery) maximizes operator flexibility by taking advantage of the powers of the HTML standard. Dreamgallery enables operators to move faster than the competition in order to create unique differentiators, and who want to base their solutions on standards rather than being locked in to a proprietary platform. The solution enables graphical flexibility due to the ability to generate pictures out of templates on the server side.

BitBand has been selected to supply its IPTV video servers to Connexion Technologies. Through the agreement, BitBand Technologies will help Connexion Technologies provide multi-dwelling residences and communities with advanced entertainment packages delivered over a single Fiber to the Home network.

Connexion Technologies deploys fiber-optic infrastructures for properties in the US. The company designs, installs and operates the networks and provides a one-stop-shop for real estate developers and communities. Utilizing BitBand's solution allows Connexion Technologies to enable and immediately deploy on-demand IPTV applications and business models.

UNE-EPM Telecommunications has selected Orca’s advanced RiGHTv middleware to enable the first IPTV service rollout in Colombia. The IPTV deployment will be carried out by Union Electrica S.A., Orca’s partner and system integrator in the project, providing a seamless, end-to-end solution. UNE-EPM Telecommunications’s IPTV service is expected to be available in major cities across Colombia in the first quarter of 2008.

Optibase announces that Airtel Broadband & Telephone Services chose the Optibase H.264 Media Gateway 5100 IPTV encoding platforms for its planned IPTV service offerings. Airtel Broadband & Telephone Services provides broadband & telephone services in 94 cities in India. Bharti Airtel is currently undertaking IPTV trials in a thousand households and is planning to launch its IPTV services in the last quarter of the current calendar year. Optibase’s carrier grade TV streaming platforms, incorporated in UTStarcom IP-based end-to-end networking solution, will be utilized by Bharti Airtel to supply high-quality H.264 video.

SeaChange unveiled its TV Platform Developer Program at IBC 2007 this week. Leading providers of applications and infrastructure solutions are embracing this IPTV catalyst, taking full advantage of SeaChange’s open standards-based TV Navigator middleware to participate in a broad marketplace of seamlessly integrated options for television operators.

Five of the TV Platform Development Partners announced at IBC include Freethinking, Integra5, Snap TV, TwoWay TV, and Verimatrix. The program is designed to deliver value-added applications that leverage the modularity of SeaChange’s TV Navigator middleware. Partners gain a significant lift amid SeaChange’s global IPTV activities, including access to product support, resources, and tools to assist in porting and developing products and services for TV Platform.

Orca Interactive announces that it is first to market with a unique combined IPTV and WebTV solution. Orca is delivering its innovative new WebTV technology to Blockbuster Israel, enabling the leading content provider to deliver advanced digital content services to its subscribers.

Expanding on Orca Interactive’s cutting edge RiGHTv middleware platform with all-new capabilities, the combined IPTV and WebTV solution supports both managed and unmanaged environments, eliminating boundaries to help service providers expand their customer base and market reach. IPTV service providers will also be able to broaden offerings to existing subscribers with anytime, anywhere TV services for on-the-go digital content over mobile PCs. In addition, content offerings can be extended beyond IPTV to enable WebTV, diverse multimedia, niche content and user generated content.

The cost of deploying new IPTV services can be reduced by as much as 33% if operators select open, scalable and more flexible middleware, according to a new white paper released by Espial. With middleware like Espial's Evo IPTV Service Platform, operators can save upwards of $195 million when deploying new IPTV services, based on a five-year deployment scenario to one million subscribers.